ReadingB1 UK

READING
LEVEL B1 (UK)
Teacher’s Pack Reading

READING
LEVEL B1 (UK)
Teacher’s Pack Reading

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Contents
 TRAVEL BLOG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 07
 THE MYSTERIOUS MAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 08
 AFRICAN-AMERICAN WRITERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 09
 ADVICE COLUMN - LONG DISTANCE RELATIONSHIP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
 COMMUTING AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
 TECHNOLOGY AND FRIENDSHIP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
 AGATHA CHRISTIE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
 TROPICAL WEDDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
 WEDDINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
 CUSTOMS AND ETIQUETTE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
 SPORT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
 AT THE SPORTS CENTRE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
 THE MUSIC GYM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
 COUNTRY HOUSE FOR SALE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
 MAKING PLANS FOR HOLIDAYS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
 THE CRUISE – INFORMAL EMAIL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
 AMATEUR FILM MAKERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
 A JOB INTERVIEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
 EMAIL TO AN AU PAIR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
 MARION EVERETT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
 HEALTHY SPORTS AND THEIR BENEFITS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
 A LONG WAY TO EQUALITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
 THE ECO-FRIENDLY FUTURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Copyright© CAE Computer Aided USA Corporation - Computer Aided Elearning, S.A. 5
 SPOIL YOURSELF! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
 OPENING A HOTEL CHAIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
 A SOLITARY CHILD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
 BUILDING A BEAR SANCTUARY IN ROMANIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
 A VERY GOOD READ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
 HE WAS NO STRANGER TO ME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
 WHEN I BECAME A JOURNALIST... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
 WELCOME TO UNIVERSITY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
 BARBADOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
6 Copyright© CAE Computer Aided USA Corporation - Computer Aided Elearning, S.A.
READING LEVEL B1
TRAVEL BLOG
It's not always good to be early!
I love travelling. I always say 'yes' to any invitation to visit a new place. My mother-in-law wanted
to visit some friends in Norway and asked my husband and me to go with her. We were very excited.
She told us that the tickets were cheap. She bought them online and printed them while we were
busy making plans about what to see while she was visiting her friends. We read a lot of interesting
information about the beautiful, lakes and mountains to visit and saw that there is a rock festival
there. I was very impressed that my mother-in-law knew how to buy tickets online and was happy
that I didn't have to organise anything.
When the departure date arrived we waited for the taxi to take us to the airport. It came on time
with my mother-in-law waving to us with a smile on her face, holding the tickets. While we were
driving to the airport, the taxi had a problem. We were lucky because the driver knew how to fix it
and it doesn't take long by car so we got to the airport more or less on time. But that was only the
beginning of our problems...
While my husband was paying for the taxi and I was unloading the luggage, my mother-in-law went
into the airport to find the check-in desk. We followed her inside and were surprised when we saw
her looking at the departure board with a white face. Our flight number wasn't on the board. Where
was it?
We went to the information desk. My mother-in-law had booked the tickets for the same dates but
the following year. We were on time but for a flight that left in 365 days, or we were 1 year early!
My mother-in-law was very embarrassed. We didn't mind very much, we get on well. We decided
to go for breakfast and talk about our trip to Norway... next year!
©
Copyright CAE Computer Aided USA Corporation - Computer Aided Elearning, S.A. 7
READING LEVEL B1
THE MYSTERIOUS MAN
A couple of months ago I received an invitation to watch a new play. I get lots of invitations because
I'm a theatre critic. I usually throw most of them away because I haven't got time but this one looked
interesting so I decided to go.
The play is called 'The Mysterious Man' and it was marvellous. It's about a young woman who saw
a strange man in her street one night. At first she didn't worry about it, but the next day a neighbour
told her that she also saw something strange outside while she was preparing the coffee maker for
the next morning. There was an object in the middle of the road and when she looked up there was
a bright light so she couldn't see anything clearly. The two women compare the man they saw: a
tall, thin person with a very long nose with a big forehead and no ears. They didn't see his eyes
because his cheeks were very big. He was holding a long piece of paper in his hands which looked
like a big shopping list and then he walked away.
They go to the police station and fill in reports and find out that many other people saw the man in
different areas of town. There police station is full. The story really gets interesting when people
start to become ill. Doctors work hard to discover what the illness is and the people looking after
the patients are all healthy. The only people to become ill are the ones who saw the man...
I don't want to say any more. Run out and make reservations for the play; it's brilliant!
©
8 Copyright CAE Computer Aided USA Corporation - Computer Aided Elearning, S.A.
READING LEVEL B1
AFRICAN-AMERICAN WRITERS
Toni Morrison.
Toni Morrison is a famous African American

writer who won the Nobel prize for literature in
1993. She was born in Lorain (Ohio) in 1931. She
lived in Lorain during the great depression.
Her family was poor, but very united. Even as a

child she was very intelligent and when she was
older she went to Howard University where she
studied literature. Afterwards she did
postgraduate studies in English literature at
Cornell University. When she finished her studies
she gave classes at Texas and Howard
Universities.
She was married and had two children, but later

she got divorced. During the time with her
husband, Howard, Morrison began to write
novels. She stopped teaching and went to work at
a publishers. She wrote many novels which were
succesful among literary critics.
Her works describe the African-American

community, the lives of African-American people
in America and especially African-American
women.
©
READING LEVEL B1
ADVICE COLUMN - LONG DISTANCE

RELATIONSHIP
Dear Jackie,
My girlfriend went to university to study medicine last month and I'm worried that the distance is a
bad thing for our relationship. She wants to be a doctor and this is a wonderful course, but she's
different. She promised to call me last night, but while I was waiting for her to call me, she was out
at a party. While I was sitting sadly on the sofa, she was out having fun. She never used to go to
parties, but now she goes out all the time. I told her that she should study harder but she didn't
listen. I thought she was the one for me, but now I'm not sure. I'm worrying so much that I feel sick.
My friends say that it's wrong to worry. She writes to me all the time and I'm planning to go to the
city to see her soon. I'm looking forward to getting away from this quiet, town - I fancy going to a
club and having fun. I know I should be happy for her and that I mustn't be sad because it's only
temporary, but I miss being with her.
What should I do?
Sam.
©
READING LEVEL B1
COMMUTING AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Commuting is the simple idea of

travelling to our place of work or studies
from day to day. The smaller fraction of
higher education students in Europe
choose to commute either because they
live with their parents and have no
intention of making the dramatic change
of living alone, or they live relatively
close to their place of study, and see it
as an unnecessary expense.
The most frequent commuters are those

travelling to, and from work. The reason
for this daily commute is most likely
because people choose to live in the less
hectic suburbs of cities for a more
relaxed life. Due to the fact that the
majority of work opportunities all over the world are in the larger cities, the need to make this
regular commute has become imperative.
Undoubtedly, there is a large percentage of people who thoroughly enjoy working and living in large
cities but for those who decide, or are obligated to commute large distances on a regular basis, it
can be a long, stressful and tedious activity to be carried out twice daily.
Commuting, unfortunately, does not only affect our psychological wellbeing... it also eats into our
wages. Whether we have our own vehicle and have to pay for fuel, insurance, tax and maintenance
or we take public transport and pay between forty euros to seventy euros per month on average in
Europe, it should be considered an important factor when applying for jobs far from your habitual
residence.
When we look at public transport in this light, it seems like an undesirable option when commuting
but there are several benefits to bear in mind. Take for example the huge savings our country makes
annually on fuel costs and the benefits this has for the environment. If more people use public
transport, there will be less traffic on the roads; minimising not only inner-city traffic but also the
damage to the ozone layer.
In conclusion, choosing to live close to your place of work or study is surely the best option for the
economy, the environment and our physical health; but it may not be the best choice for our
psychological wellbeing, so before signing a contract or registering in a university, think about the
life you are signing up to. If you are destined to commute, will you contribute to the excessive
levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere or will you pay the public transport fares and reduce
the levels of pollution caused by large numbers of vehicles?
©
READING LEVEL B1
TECHNOLOGY AND FRIENDSHIP
These days technology is very significant in our social lives. Everybody owns devices like computers,
tablets and mobile phones to keep in touch with their mates. We log in to social media sites, we sign
up to chat rooms and we read blogs. This is the age of information. Every day around the world
people watch approximately one billion YouTube videos on their smartphones. Laptops and phones
are as important as eating and drinking. Technology is essential to business, agriculture, medicine
and our personal relationships. But it is possible that one day computers will be part of the family.
Maybe, in the future we will fall in love with computers. There are many contemporary films and
books which mention stories of love at first sight between a human and a robot, computer or
operating system. In the past we imagined robots helping with chores around the house; if the room
is dirty then a friendly robot will vacuum the rug, and if there is a lot of stuff on the floor, then the
robot will tidy up the stuff. But very soon computers will be extremely advanced, they will be as
intelligent as human beings and I think we will have profound friendships with hard disks and chips.
It sounds as crazy as a science fiction film but one day I'm sure I'll read a story in the newspaper
about the first person to get married to a robot. I only hope that artificial intelligence is friendly and
I hope it won't be dangerous as Stephen Hawking believes.
©
READING LEVEL B1
AGATHA CHRISTIE
Born in Torquay on September 15th1890, Agatha Christie became one of the most famous authors
in British history and an important name in the literary movement referred to as 'The Golden age of
Detective Fiction'.
She wrote 80 novels, including famous characters such as Miss Jane Marple, who was a typical
elderly British lady, and Hercule Poirot, an elegant Belgian man who always seemed to be in the
right place at the right time.
Christie's books have been translated into many different languages and she is one of the best-
selling authors of all time.
Her play, The Mousetrap, had its first performance in 1952 and holds the World Record for the
longest-running stage play. Christie said that nobody can make a film of the play while it is still in
the theatre. There are many film versions of her other books and for real fans there is a museum in
Torquay.
There was mystery in her own life when she disappeared on December 3rd 1926. She wasn't seen
for eleven days until she was discovered in a spa hotel, using a different name.
Naturally there were many theories about the reason for her disappearance (some say it was after
an argument with her husband and others think it was for publicity) but none were confirmed.
©
READING LEVEL B1
TROPICAL WEDDING
Dear Frank,
I arrived safely although I was worried and frightened

when I saw the aeroplane for my connecting flight to the
island, it was more ancient than any plane I have seen; it
was the oldest plane in the world! During the flight, the
pilot told us about the history of the archipelago. We
looked at the hundreds of beaches and coves down below
and learned about stories of pirates, treasure and
shipwrecks, then we discussed our favourite pirate jokes.
It was hilarious!
The weather here is much hotter than back home. If it

stays this warm, then tomorrow I'll wear my bikini to the
wedding! This morning I had a headache so I took an aspirin, but the pill gave me a stomach ache.
It's not the worst thing in the world, hopefully it's not a virus and I'll be fine tomorrow. I think I'm
just tired from travelling, it is so exhausting. This afternoon I'll take it easy and I'll lie down and rest,
tomorrow is going to be crazy.
I have to wake up at seven o'clock because I'm having breakfast with the best man and he's going
to practise his speech with me. I saw him at the bar yesterday, he looked stressed. The speech was
written on a napkin! I don't think he's a natural performer. If he wants the bride and groom to have
a perfect day, he must keep calm.
I'm really annoyed you had to stay home to work; I miss you more than you know. The wedding
musicians arrived today but the instruments were lost in transit and the guitarist is running around
like a mad man trying to find a guitar to borrow. I don't think anybody has one to lend him. Why do
we need a band for entertainment? We can all sing!
Lots of love,
Valery
xxx
©
READING LEVEL B1
WEDDINGS
In Britain there are two types of wedding: a civil wedding or a church wedding. In a civil wedding
the ceremony takes place in the registry office and the bride and bridegroom are married by the
registrar, a civil servant, who has the legal power to marry. There are two witnesses, usually close
friends or relatives of the bride and bridegroom. A civil ceremony is usually for close family and
friends and it is a small, simple affair.
Church weddings are usually much bigger: many more people are invited. The bridegroom's guests
sit on the right hand side and the bride's guests on the left. The best man, usually the bridegroom's
best friend or brother, looks after the rings. The bridegroom and the best man wait in the church,
and then the bride comes down the aisle, accompanied by her father. She has bridesmaids, these
are female friends or relations of the bride, who walk along behind her and help to carry her dress.
The ceremony is longer and includes readings, and in the Catholic Church, there is also communion.
With both types of ceremony friends and relatives throw confetti at the newly married couple and
the bride throws her bouquet of flowers at the single, female guests. They say that the one who
catches it is the next to be married. After the ceremony there is usually a reception, lunch or dinner
for all the guests. The bride usually wears white and should wear four things for good luck:
something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.
©
READING LEVEL B1
CUSTOMS AND ETIQUETTE
The British are possibly most famous for their

punctuality. In the UK, if you arrange to meet
someone at half past four, that person will be
there on time.
This attitude can be frustrating for people from

cultures which are more relaxed about time.
This point is especially important when you go
to the theatre, cinema or to a public event.
If you go to visit someone in their own home or

are invited for a meal, it is quite common to
take a small gift such as a box of chocolates,
flowers or a bottle of wine. Again, it is very
important to arrive on time and to call if you
are going to be late.
Nobody likes standing in queues (lines) for a

long time while they are waiting for a bus, or to
pay in a shop but British people make a queue
in most situations where they are waiting.
If somebody tries to 'push in' (go to the start of the queue without waiting) the other people will
react by telling them to wait for their turn.
©
READING LEVEL B1
SPORT
Football is definitely the most popular spectator

sport in the UK.
Some people arrange their social calendar, so

that they can see all the matches.
The FA (Football Association) made the first

official rules in 1863.
The teams are divided into leagues, with the best

teams in the First Division. Some football players
become celebrities and receive a lot of money
from the football clubs.
Football fans often buy a 'season ticket' to their

club's home stadium so they can go to watch all
the matches. It is very cold in the winter and
there is a high chance of rain, so the fans are
dedicated and take umbrellas and hot drinks
with them.
Most fans wear a scarf with their team's colours. Different teams often have their own song that
the fans sing to support them, while they are playing.
Cricket is another typically English sport. It is a team game and there are eleven players in each
team.
All the players wear white. They have to hit a small, red ball with a cricket bat.
Cricket matches can last for five days.
©
READING LEVEL B1
AT THE SPORTS CENTRE
At the Champion Sports and Leisure Centre there is something for everyone. We have facilities for
team sports such as basketball or indoor football, as well as a fully-equipped gym, and a games
room for playing cards, chess and other board games. There is also a TV lounge and a bar selling
soft drinks and snacks.
Independent clubs and societies can use our meeting room.
Special activities for children of all ages.
Discounts for students and the unemployed.
©
READING LEVEL B1
THE MUSIC GYM
In the fashionable East London area of Shoreditch there is

a new gym with a surprise. It is not your average gym; it is
a fully-equipped training facility with a difference. Here
you will hardly ever find anybody doing exercise and
listening to a playlist on their phone or MP3 player
because this is London's first health club with live music.
The clientele come to The Music Gym to watch bands and
DJs while they train.
On Monday they play pop music; on Tuesday they have a

resident heavy metal band that gets people ready for their
workout; Wednesday you can play table tennis while a DJ
spins disco music; on Thursday morning you can do yoga while a small orchestra plays classical
music; on Friday a hip hop group does live rap; on Saturday you can attend rave aerobics, and on
Sunday there is karaoke, so the customers can have a rest from lifting weights and sing their
favourite song.
We asked some of the clients at The Music Gym if they like it. Part-time sports coach, Peter Selby
said, "I love it! Leisure is about enjoying your free time, and this leisure centre combines my two
main interests: sports and music. Plus, I really like that it supports local musicians."
However, not everybody is so keen. When we asked Lara Patel, she told us the following:
"It's quite a fun idea. I like it when there is classical music because it is fantastic for practising ballet.
But sometimes the music is annoying; I hate heavy metal music so tomorrow I'm going jogging in
the park."
Gym manager, Anna Clark spoke to us about why putting a stage in a gym was a great idea.
"It started as a joke really. Andy, the receptionist, always talked about his band, so we decided to
book the band for a gig at the gym and everybody loved it. It is so much more social than a normal
gym. The rhythm is perfect for training and the atmosphere is very friendly. It is a really healthy way
to enjoy music.
The Music Gym is offering a discount to new members for the next month, or you can pay £15 for a
non-member, one-day session where you can meet the team of personal trainers, and use the top
of the range facilities to get fit and watch a band!
©
READING LEVEL B1
COUNTRY HOUSE FOR SALE
A luxurious country house in beautiful situation. Downstairs there is a hall, spacious living room with
fireplace and high ceiling, fully-equipped kitchen, unfurnished dining room, study and toilet.
Upstairs, one double and two single bedrooms and two bathrooms.
Old fashioned wooden staircase (needs attention), lovely views of countryside. Garage and large
garden with greenhouse. Two hours from London by train.
Please ring for an appointment to view this magnificent house.
98655432
©
READING LEVEL B1
MAKING PLANS FOR HOLIDAYS
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and its cultural centre. It has a famous university and is, of
course, a tourist centre. The main attraction is the castle, impressively situated on a hill of volcanic
rock, and overlooking the sea.
It includes styles from many eras of Scottish history. There are regular sightseeing tours of this
beautiful, historical city, with its many churches, palaces and museums.
The Edinburgh arts festival in the summer attracts thousands of visitors every year. Don't forget to
try the local whisky! Accesible by train, coach and plane. Accommodation in hotels, guest houses,
youth hostels, etc.
©
READING LEVEL B1
THE CRUISE – INFORMAL EMAIL
Hi Tom,
Have you ever been on a cruise? I've just got back from my first ever sightseeing cruise and it was
really exciting. It was the perfect honeymoon for me and Alice because there were so many options.
I like the sea, sand, and sunbathing that you find at a resort, but she's different, she needs some
adventure tourism and we both love a bit of cultural appreciation. The great thing about a cruise is
that on one day we have the chance to visit the cultural centre of a medieval village and have a look
at the interesting artefacts in a local museum and then the next day she can hike up a hill and go
hang-gliding. I still haven't plucked up the courage to join her on one of her crazy adventures, maybe
next year I'll go skiing with her. She normally goes with her brother and I stay at home and look after
Bruno the cat. She always tries to convince me to come, but I haven't even read the brochure yet! I
tell her I'll have a look at the different snow sports I can do abroad, but when she's not looking I
open a different website and I check out luxurious beachside hotels in the Algarve and quaint
accommodation in the wine making regions of Italy.
Anyway, the cruise was amazing. We toured the Greek islands. Have you ever been to Crete? We
spent a day there with a tourist guide. Alice and I got on a coach with some of the other passengers
and we did a tour of some of the island's castles. The castle coach tour was optional, but I'm glad
we did it, we learnt so much. That afternoon, most other passengers stayed on the beach, but we
were lucky because the weather was much nicer inland and on the beach it was quite cloudy.
We only arrived home on Wednesday and we've already booked our next cruise. Next summer we're
going to the Caribbean. I'll send you the information; if you and Lilly come, I think it will be really
fun. It will be like when we used to go hitchhiking when we were university students. I still remember
the great times we had inter-railing and staying in budget youth hostels and camping sites. We can
do it again, but instead of rucksacks with our tent and sleeping bag, we'll have suitcases with our
bathing suits and sun cream!
Take it easy,
Richard
©
READING LEVEL B1
AMATEUR FILM MAKERS
The local Town Hall has organised a competition for amateur film makers.
There will be a prize for each category; comedy, science-fiction, suspense and documentary.
Sorry, no horror or war films admitted!
There is also a special section for under eighteens, who can win a trip to Hollywood.
There will be an overall prize of filming equipment for the best film. Judges are looking for creativity
as well as technical ability and the films must be well-acted and presented and, of course, enjoyable.
No one who is already working in the film industry may enter their work.
©
READING LEVEL B1
A JOB INTERVIEW
When you go for a job interview you should make an effort to look smart, and of course you must
be polite; friendly, but not too familiar.
You want to make a positive impression on the interviewer.
On the other hand, you should not pretend to be something you are not.
For example, if you are asked about your ability with figures and you can't stand maths, it is no use
lying.
The interview exists so that you can see if the job suits you and the interviewer can decide whether
you suit the job, and you can both avoid making a mistake.
You ought to find out some information about the firm you may work. Think of some intelligent
questions to ask, as well as making a list of the qualities and experience that make you a suitable
candidate for the job.
But you mustn't learn your answers by heart. Try to be natural, show interest in the job and above
all, you shouldn't be over confident. Interviewers hate this!
©
READING LEVEL B1
EMAIL TO AN AU PAIR
Dear Emily,
My name is Vicky, I am writing to ask if you are interested
in a job as an au pair. Last year you worked for my friends,
Mr and Mrs Hawksley, and you must have made an
impression because they always say how superb you
were. Mrs Hawksley gave me your email address. She is
very confident that you will be suitable for the job. She
says that you always made an effort to do all the
housework thoroughly and efficiently. When I saw him
the other day, Mr Hawksley was saying how smart, funny
and polite you are. You sound absolutely perfect for the
job!
Please allow me to explain the chores that you must carry out. Every day you should do the general
housework: make the beds, do the washing up, tidy the house, and feed the dogs and take them for
a walk. I'll make a list each morning of any extra things that need doing. On a weekly basis there will
be tasks such as doing the dusting and sweeping, washing and ironing clothes, and doing the food
shopping.
My husband and I need to get someone in because we are both doing overtime at work and, to be
honest, we don't have time to do the cleaning. We try to take it in turns to do the housework, but
it's no use, we are so tired when we get home from work that we just make a mess and then go to
bed! We need an expert and I think you could be the professional we are looking for.
You should come and meet us. We ought to arrange an interview. When are you free? Don't worry,
it won't be a very formal interview, you can wear casual clothes. If we make an appointment for
next week, we can discuss wages and living arrangements. I think this will be a good opportunity for
you to make some money and get to know a new area. We live very close to the New Forest and
taking the dogs for a walk in the woods is really beautiful, especially in autumn. My husband and I
are very easy to get along with and the dogs, Tess and Pickle, are really well-behaved.
If you have a driving licence, you can borrow our spare car to do the shopping or for emergencies,
and I'm sure we could make arrangements for you to borrow the car at the weekend for social
reasons, because I'm sure you'll make lots of new friends around here.
I look forward to hearing from you.

All the best,
Vicky Morgan
©
READING LEVEL B1
MARION EVERETT
Marion Everett was born to be famous. That's what she told me when I interviewed her in her
parents' country house in the suburbs.
As a small child she used to do ballet for visitors, and when she was six, she won a talent competition.
Now, at nineteen, she is appearing on the West End Stage. But, is she the average teenager she
seems to be?
"I love pop music and dancing, I go out with my friends every Saturday night, and we often play
tennis and basketball."
Marion clearly wants to have fun, but she is much more confident than most teenagers, and she
knows exactly where she's going.
©
READING LEVEL B1
HEALTHY SPORTS AND THEIR

BENEFITS
All of us are aware of the importance of doing regular exercise; but do we know exactly what results
we achieve with certain sports and which suit our lifestyles better? To help answer this question we
will look at several sports in more detail.
Swimming is a sporting activity widely known for its health benefits. What makes it different from
other sports is the fact that it counteracts the force of gravity, since there is little impact that puts
stress on our bones and joints in contrast to an activity like running. However, provided we keep a
constant rhythm and speed in the swimming pool, it is an anaerobic exercise helping to improve our
general fitness, stimulating our metabolism, burning fat and toning muscle. It has been calculated
that we burn five hundred calories in one hour of swimming. Since our natural position is vertical
and swimming is horizontal, it helps move respiratory secretions and consequently improves
breathing. It has also been scientifically demonstrated to help those suffering from asthma. It
balances our blood pressure and normalises our pulse rate. Some of the most obvious advantages
to swimming are that over two thirds of the muscles in our body are worked while we swim,
strengthening our joints and improving our posture.
Tennis is a fantastic sport for exercise because it combines many different aspects of fitness. It can
help us improve our strength, speed, flexibility, power, balance, coordination and muscle tone in
general. It has been estimated that an average tennis player will run four to eight kilometres in one
match; burning up to six hundred calories in an hour. Due to the same repeated movements, playing
tennis greatly tones the thighs, buttocks, stomach and arms. Owing to tennis involving continuous
movement it is a great example of aerobic exercise improving our overall fitness, speeding up our
metabolism and helping to burn fat more quickly. The forehand and backhand swings involved in
tennis increase core stability and tone your abdomen.
©
READING LEVEL B1
Gymnastics is another great sport for overall fitness. In particular, it helps build on a range of motor
and coordination skills, as well as producing fantastic strength, endurance and power. It favours the
development of lean, toned muscles, improves our balance and gives us a better posture. Regular
gymnastic training fights against age-related decline and bone loss - helping to reduce the risk of
osteoporosis. It burns high levels of fat, helping to control weight management, maintaining healthy
levels of cholesterol and blood pressure.
Apart from all the obvious physical benefits of participating in sports, there are also social
advantages. For example, team sports give us more self-confidence and a higher self-esteem. It can
give us a sense of achievement and has been studied as a preventative measure against mental
illnesses like anxiety and depression. We all face regular competition in our education and/or work
life; so participating in sports in a friendly setting is an opportunity to see the importance of, and
learn to, coexist with competition in life.
©
READING LEVEL B1
A LONG WAY TO EQUALITY
Nowadays there is still a long way to go before women and men are treated equally. Even though
there have been major strides in gender equality since 1990, our society hasn't gained it yet.
According to recent research, 80% of working wives still do nearly all the housework. Actually, just
over one in ten women say that their husbands do more housework than they do.
For 30% of the jobs studied, men earned more money for the same work, and 50% of the
employers interviewed would rather employ men than women. On the other hand, 40% of men
opt out of their right to take paternity leave since they believe there is still a social stigma against
fathers who decide to take this time off.
In addition, studies reveal that the progress that allowed the gender crossover in jobs may have
stalled a bit since the last decade. Today 65% of women over 40 work in traditionally feminine jobs
like teaching, nursing and secretarial work or else babysitting and cleaning.
©
READING LEVEL B1
THE ECO-FRIENDLY FUTURE
Nowadays the scientific community is spending a great deal of time and energy on trying to solve
the world's climate issues. There are more and more floods, thunderstorms, tsunamis and droughts
making front page news. According to most recent research, we should expect to see plenty of
extreme weather forecasts in the future. We have a responsibility to our children, grandchildren
and all future generations to do everything we can to avoid any more severe ecological changes.
What can we do? What must we do? From day to day

there are various things we ought to do, individually, in
order to be more eco-friendly. We can all get out of some
bad habits; we should turn the lights off when we leave a
room and also make sure we use new, more efficient light
bulbs that don't waste electricity. Nearly all of us can make
more of an effort to use recyclable goods, to cycle and
walk more often, and to eat responsibly; although, in
practice this can be difficult, we have to try or else the
consequences could be terrible.
On a global scale we must aim to reduce levels of carbon dioxide and other contaminants in the
atmosphere. A few experts have suggested that a bigger investment in renewable energy, such as
wind power, is required. One day there won't be any fossil fuels left; if we haven't developed viable
alternatives then we can guess what might happen, let's hope we don't find out!
We need to introduce strict guidelines governing deforestation; the forests are the lungs of the earth
and they help to absorb some of the carbon dioxide in the air. We must aim to keep the tropical and
mountainous parts of our environment unspoilt. If we recycle more paper and develop efficient
agricultural techniques, then the rest of the rainforests may be saved which will prevent tropical
species of animals and plants from dying out and, over time, the trees will reduce greenhouse gases
which push up the earth's temperature.
Global warming leads to the melting of the polar ice caps which would threaten the coast of many
countries. The temperature increase also causes more freak weather patterns which are difficult to
predict. El Nino results in pouring rain which causes havoc in hundreds of cities around the world.
We have a long way to go, but we can't wait any longer; now is the time for the eco-friendly era.
©
READING LEVEL B1
SPOIL YOURSELF!
Go on, spoil yourself! If you don't, nobody else will.
We tend to look after others more than ourselves and many women neither think about their needs
nor spend time by themselves.
Start by looking at yourself in the mirror. It is essential to like and accept ourselves, and this begins
with our body.
Then, take a good look at your lifestyle.
How could you be kinder to yourself? Take time to relax and enjoy yourself; either treat yourself to
something new or give yourself a new hairstyle.
We should all surround ourselves with beautiful things. Be your own best friend - you deserve love
and attention as much as your family do.
©
READING LEVEL B1
OPENING A HOTEL CHAIN
In early 1990, a young, dynamic Londoner was travelling around India and found himself locked out
of his hotel after closing time, at only 8 o'clock in the evening. His options were limited; either bed
down on the hotel doorstep or traipse the streets, heavy backpack in tow. Whilst most people would
have seen the negative side of his dilemma, this young traveller realised he had stumbled across a
unique business opportunity. As he sat in a nearby café, he noticed many fellow backpackers looking
lost and milling around the street. Like him, the one thing they wanted to do was check into a place
where they could receive a warm welcome and comfy bed for the night. To remove a pair of smelly
socks and perhaps even make a cup of tea in front of a DVD would be worth a million dollars to
anyone of them right now. The penny dropped, he could clearly see the immense business
opportunity he was facing.
The following year, with his business plan complete, Fernando set up his own company, DREAM OF
HOME. His marketing strategy was to present a hostel which provided comfortable and affordable
accommodation for the backpacking generation. The profile of today's backpacker is usually
between 20-30 years old, with a good education and relatively high level I.Q. They are normally
taking time out between college or university, about to start their career and subsequently have
some cash to spend.
©
READING LEVEL B1
In recent years, Fernando's chain has grown rapidly, with over 50 hostels in 20 countries worldwide
- approximately 1000 beds throughout the world in total. Fernando wants his guests to feel as if
they were at home at grandma's where they will be looked after. Both the backpackers and their
parents like this as they are happy to know that their offspring are staying in a reputable, safe and
secure environment - but at the same time having fun and meeting other likeminded people. Each
hostel has communal bathrooms and a 'lounging' area with sofas and drink machines available to
guests and a television and stereo at their disposal. There is also free internet -Fernando knew how
essential messenger and email would be to his guests.
Another secret to Fernando's success is that, as a former backpacker himself, he knows that his
guests still want to feel like adventurers. He is very specific about his marketing and realises he must
make his clients feel that they have chosen the hostel themselves and it's not part of some all-
inclusive trip, that they are still doing their own thing. Meanwhile, he hopes to carry on his hostel
expansion throughout the globe for the next few years at least! He is determined to keep giving his
customers what they want; he has found a product which his customers seem to want and doesn't
intend to change a thing.
©
READING LEVEL B1
A SOLITARY CHILD
Elsie was a solitary child. She grew up surrounded by nature, as well as characters from her
imagination, in a London suburb far from the bustling city centre.
Hard to believe that a few kilometres away were the crowds and the noise of the capital. There was
little for her to do but run and climb trees, and dream...
She knew the neighbours by sight, but everyone kept themselves to themselves. Her father was a
commuter, leaving early and returning late to miss the rush hour, and her mother was always busy.
So Elsie had only herself for entertainment and the fantastic world she created was much more
exciting than reality.
©
READING LEVEL B1
BUILDING A BEAR SANCTUARY IN

ROMANIA
Romania is famous for many things, Dracula being one of them. More recently however, the severe
maltreatment of its bear population has hit the headlines. On one misty autumn morning in late
November, we found ourselves witness to three of these formerly mistreated bears enjoying their
new home. As they stepped out of their cages they nervously sniffed the fresh air. It was the first
time they'd been free of their tiny prison cells for at least a decade and they couldn't believe their
luck. The huge open space around them was obviously unfamiliar to them, having been used to just
5 square feet in which to move for most of their lives.
The three bears were rescued last autumn from a restaurant near Brasov, Transylvania, where they
were used to attract passing tourists. Each brown bear was housed in a tiny concrete-floored cage
measuring just five square feet. The owners neglected the bears, rarely cleaned their cages and
couldn't even be bothered to give them a few sticks or logs to play with. The bears were lucky to be
fed. They ate leftovers and whatever the customers fed them off their plates, they were practically
starving.
Local animal activist Christina Lombard said, "I will always remember the first time I saw those
beautiful bears, I was so upset by the way they were being treated that I sat down in front of their
cages and cried. I promised them that I would not rest until I had rescued them."
©
READING LEVEL B1
Cristina persuaded WBA to build the bears a 170 acre sanctuary in the castle grounds. Although the
sanctuary will not be completed for another six months, bears are already queuing up for release
into the compound and are eager to enjoy their new environment.
By the end of the year, the sanctuary is expected to provide a home for around 50 bears. To
complete it, WBA need to raise an additional £200,000. If they manage this, they will be able to
rescue another 50 animals and build a visitor centre where Romanian children can learn how to
protect the bears and learn more about animal welfare.
"It's not that people here are intentionally cruel to these bears, it's more that they see animals
differently to us. They don't understand that animals feel emotions such as frustration or boredom.
The only way we will change future treatment of animals is to change people's thinking, the best
way to do that is through education. This will be one of the main focuses of the sanctuary."
It's likely that they will need all the space they can get for the creatures. The Romanian authorities
have just launched a nationwide campaign to rescue bears imprisoned in private collections across
the country. This will mean they can comply with tough European animal welfare laws.
"If we raise the money, we'll be able to take every bear we find," says Vince. "I hope we'll soon have
groups of happy bears wandering through our woodlands and dozing in our meadows. It's
impossible not to be affected and moved when you see a bear revelling in his freedom, you would
have to try very hard not to get something positive from the experience".
©
READING LEVEL B1
A VERY GOOD READ
"Cry" Jennifer Keele.
I had been waiting impatiently for her second novel, and I'm not disappointed. It's a very good read,
especially if you are interested in native culture. But that's the only clue I'm going to give you. Don't
miss it!
"Meet my shadow" Peter Darwin.
On the other hand, I found Darwin's latest novel depressing, similar in style and content to his
previous work; but not nearly as amusing. It is the story of how Mr Average, in unusual situations,
discovers himself and is surprised by what he finds. Prepare to be bored.
"The Rainbow Girl"

For younger readers, this is an amazing book, full of colour, about a little girl who is given the
opportunity to put things right in the world. I promise that, young or old, you will be thrilled from
beginning to end.
©
READING LEVEL B1
HE WAS NO STRANGER TO ME
As I sat down, I could feel the young man's eyes watching me. I looked shyly out of the window, but
when he spoke his voice was kind.
"How far are you going?" he asked, gently.
"To Bristol," I answered, avoiding his gaze.
"Then we are getting out at the same stop," he said, and I knew, without needing to look at him,
that he was smiling. I pretended to be interested in the scenery.
"I find travelling by train so boring... do you mind helping me to pass the time?" he asked.
"No, of course not," I answered politely, but secretely embarassed and a little afraid.
It was at that moment that I decided to meet his eyes and I was amazed to feel that he was no
stranger to me. Then it was no use pretending anymore.
©
READING LEVEL B1
WHEN I BECAME A JOURNALIST...
When I became a journalist I enjoyed writing articles about crime, but I never thought I would be
reporting as a hostage in a jewellery shop heist.
It all started when I planned to buy something special for

Heather, my fiancée. It was her birthday so I really wanted
to spoil her. I went to the local high street but I couldn't
find an adequate gift. Normally I am very easy-going but
the stress of not knowing what to buy was making me
quite upset. Luckily, I bumped into one of Heather's
closest friends who suggested that I get her some
jewellery. She told me that they had been gossiping about
the fashion column in the Sunday supplement and that
Heather had not stopped going on about how beautiful
the featured necklace was.
'You have to be kidding!' I shouted, 'I've just bought her an engagement ring.' 'Don't worry,' replied
Heather's friend calmly, 'there's an incredibly good value jewellery shop around the corner.' She
smiled cheerfully.
I asked her what it was called but there was a misunderstanding, which I blame on her strange
accent. In the end, I asked her to write down the name of the shop. Fortunately, she was not too
sensitive about her accent, she just laughed and offered to show me the way to the boutique.
She said goodbye and left me at the door not knowing that there would soon be an attack on the
property and I would be a witness. I went in and was looking at a pretty silver chain when a good-
looking man in a suit walked in. He seemed outgoing and sociable while he was talking to one of the
shop assistants, but then they started to argue and I could see that he was behaving more and more
aggressively. Suddenly, without warning, the stranger pulled out a gun. The employee, seeing that
the man was a credible threat, used her judgement and pressed the panic button. The well-dressed
criminal told the manager to open the till, but she bravely refused. Then the man approached me,
pointed the gun at me and insisted that the manager give him all the cash. I had become a hostage!
I panicked and told the gunman that I was a reporter. He whispered in my ear that I should write an
article about him. The idea of being in all the headlines in the press made him careless. He sat down
and asked whether I knew any publishers. He was gazing into the middle distance, probably
dreaming about writing his memoirs, when the police stormed in. He'll have plenty of time to write
a book in prison.
©
READING LEVEL B1
WELCOME TO UNIVERSITY
Welcome!
This leaflet is here to welcome new students to the university. We hope your time will be enjoyable
as well as useful.
Facilities on Campus:
1. An excellent library with study area.

2. A small supermarket.
3. Branches of all the major banks.
4. A launderette.
5. Three bars and a café (with snacks available).
6. A second-hand bookshop.
7. A fully-equipped arts centre (theatre, cinema, art gallery).
8. A medical centre.
9. An advice centre (for non-academic problems).
10. A radio station.
There are also plenty of clubs and societies (cultural, political, social...) organised by the students
themselves and religious groups.
The town is situated in an unspoilt part of Great Britain and there are a great deal of opportunities
for excursions. The climate is neither very hot nor very cold. There is quite a lot of rainfall (and not
enough sunshine!).
You will find everything within walking distance: a modern shopping centre, restaurants, local
museum and sports facilities. And, if you like sightseeing, there is a fascinating tourist route through
the old town.
Work hard (...and have a good time!)
©
READING LEVEL B1
BARBADOS
Barbados is an island situated in the western area of the North Atlantic with an estimated four
hundred thirty-one square kilometres. It was first explored by the Spanish in the fourteen hundreds
(1400s) followed by the Portuguese in the fifteen hundreds (1500s). Later in sixteen twenty-four
(1624), an English ship called the Olive Blossom arrived and claimed possession of the land under
the reign of King James the First. Three years later, English settlers arrived and it became a British
colony.
The name of the island is said to come from the Spanish expression "Los Barbudos," meaning "the
bearded ones." There are many theories as to why it was given this name, some of which include
the possible reference to the hanging roots of the bearded fig-tree, the foam spraying over the
outlying reefs or more simply the bearded indigenous inhabitants of the island.
There is a population of approximately two hundred eighty-four thousand with more than forty
percent living within the largest city and capital Bridgetown or in its suburbs. Between nineteen
forty-six and nineteen eighty, over thirty percent of the population immigrated to Britain. Barbados
became an independent state in nineteen sixty-six, retaining Queen Elizabeth the Second as Head
of State.
©
READING LEVEL B1
Regarding the climate in Barbados, it is said to have two seasons. Wet season runs from June to
November and is so-named for its higher level of rainfall. From December to May the island
experiences what they call dry season. Average temperatures in dry season range from twenty one
to thirty one degrees centigrade while they range from twenty three to thirty one degree centigrade
in wet season.
It is not extremely uncommon to experience natural disasters in Barbados like earthquakes,

landslips, and hurricanes. The last significant hit from a hurricane which caused severe damage to
Barbados was Hurricane Janet in nineteen fifty-five. The seventeen eighty hurricane killed over four
thousand people on the island.
The official language of Barbados is English and tends to conform to the vocabulary, pronunciation,
spelling and conventions akin to, but not exactly the same, as those of British English. Natives of
Barbados speak a variant of English they refer to as Bajan, moreover in informal situations. It is
highly influenced by other Caribbean English dialects and is said to be a fusion of British English and
elements borrowed from the languages of West Africa.
Famous people that come from Barbados include Grammy-winning Rihanna, who was born in Saint
Michael in nineteen eighty-eight. In two thousand and nine she was appointed as an official
Honorary Ambassador of youth and culture for Barbados by the late Prime Minister, David
Thompson.
©

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READING

Teacher’s Pack Reading

Teacher’s Pack Reading

The brands, logos, designs, trademarks, titles and/or trade

Reproduction of all or any part of this work and its additional

Intellectual Property Registration in process

CAE Computer Aided USA Corp. / Computer Aided eLearning, S.A.

It's not always good to be early!

THE MYSTERIOUS MAN

Toni Morrison is a famous African American

Her family was poor, but very united. Even as a

She was married and had two children, but later

Her works describe the African-American

ADVICE COLUMN - LONG DISTANCE

What should I do?

COMMUTING AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Commuting is the simple idea of

The most frequent commuters are those

TECHNOLOGY AND FRIENDSHIP

I arrived safely although I was worried and frightened

The weather here is much hotter than back home. If it

CUSTOMS AND ETIQUETTE

The British are possibly most famous for their

This attitude can be frustrating for people from

If you go to visit someone in their own home or

Nobody likes standing in queues (lines) for a

Football is definitely the most popular spectator

Some people arrange their social calendar, so

The FA (Football Association) made the first

The teams are divided into leagues, with the best

Football fans often buy a 'season ticket' to their

Cricket matches can last for five days.

AT THE SPORTS CENTRE

Independent clubs and societies can use our meeting room.

Special activities for children of all ages.

Discounts for students and the unemployed.

THE MUSIC GYM

In the fashionable East London area of Shoreditch there is

On Monday they play pop music; on Tuesday they have a

COUNTRY HOUSE FOR SALE

Please ring for an appointment to view this magnificent house.

MAKING PLANS FOR HOLIDAYS

THE CRUISE – INFORMAL EMAIL

AMATEUR FILM MAKERS

Sorry, no horror or war films admitted!

You want to make a positive impression on the interviewer.

I look forward to hearing from you.

HEALTHY SPORTS AND THEIR

A LONG WAY TO EQUALITY

THE ECO-FRIENDLY FUTURE

What can we do? What must we do? From day to day

Go on, spoil yourself! If you don't, nobody else will.

Then, take a good look at your lifestyle.

OPENING A HOTEL CHAIN

BUILDING A BEAR SANCTUARY IN

A VERY GOOD READ

"Cry" Jennifer Keele.

"Meet my shadow" Peter Darwin.

"The Rainbow Girl"

"How far are you going?" he asked, gently.

"To Bristol," I answered, avoiding his gaze.

WHEN I BECAME A JOURNALIST...

It all started when I planned to buy something special for